X-ray change over system



DCC 5, 1933- M. MoRRlsoN Er Al. A 1,937,835

X-RAY CHANGE OVER SYSTEM Filed May '7, 1932 lllll ll l Patented Dec. 5,. i933 7 X-RAY CHANGE OVER SYSTEM Montford'Morrison, Montclair, N'. J., and Stanley l E, Lundquist,4 Jackson Heights, N. Y., assignors to Westinghouse X-Ray Company Inc., a corporation of Delaware Appuca'tion May 7 1932. serial No. 609,304 5 claims. (ci. 25o- 34) f Our invention relates to X-r-ay systems and invention and which may be readily converted particularly to such systems adapted for radiofrom one condition of operationto the other. graphic and fluoroscopic examinations. Systems Referring now tothe drawing in detail We of this general type are usually employed with have shown an X-ray tube 5, which is energized X-ray apparatus known to the art as serialby the secondarywinding 6 of a high tension 60 ographs. This type-of 'apparatus is usually emtransformer 7, the secondary winding 6 being conployed by the Roentgenologist for making luoro nected to the X-ray tube by means of conductors scopic examinations andit frequently happens' 8 and 9. The thermionic cathode of the X-ray that during such an examination some particular tube receives heating current from a'low tension l phenomenon isz observed of which a radiographic transformer `1), 4the secondary 11 of which `is 65 picture is immediately desired. Under these circonnected to the cathode by means of the comcumstancesthe Roentgenologist immediately demon conductor 9 and a conductor 12. The prisires to convert the apparatus from` one condimary winding 13 ofthe high tension transformer tion of operation to the other as expeditiously as 7 is arranged to receive energy from a suitable 15 possible. source of alternating current of usual com- 70v `40 radiographic purposes by the Roentgenologist;

The energy supplied to the X-ray tube for purmercal potential, such as a generator 14, through poses ofuoroscopy examination are much less a pair of conductors L1 and L2. than that required for the taking of radiographic A switch C is connected in series With the con picturesyv and it therefore becomes necessary to inductor L2 for the purposes of opening and closing crease the energy supplied to the X-ray tube in the circuit to the Vprimary Winding 13 and a suit- 75 order to convert the apparatus. This conversion able resistance '15 is imposed in the conductor L2 usually requires a short period of time to allow and is thus in series with the primary Winding 13 the X-ray tube to be supplied with this increased and the source oi supply 14, for a purpose to be energy. l l i hereinafter more fully stated. l l Heretofore in the art the Roentgenologist has The primary Winding 16 of the cathode heating 30 usually had to `v/ait aishort period of time before transformer 10 has one of its ends connected by taking the radiographic picture fandA during this means of a conductor 17 to' the conductor L1 short period the particular phenomenon which it throughthe medium of a suitable switch D and is desired to photograph may have changed in the remaining end of this primary-Winding is some manner.` l l Vconnected to thel conductor L2 by means ofthe 85 It is, therefore, anobject of our invention to* conductor 18 with a resistance element 19 im- PlOVide an X'lay System whichV may be COH- posed therein in the same manner as previously l Verted flOma SYStem utilized fOI fluOIOSCODY 130 a" referred to relative to the resistance element Y15. system for radiographic purposeswilfwut the with this poi-tion of our system thus far denecessity'for waiting for `the inherent change in scribed "it oanloo roadlly. appreciated that upon 90 the apparatu- Y L closure of the switch D, the primary winding 16 Another ObJectof our mventmn 1S to prvlde a of the low tension transformer l0 will become Systemnormauyemployed for uoroscoplc pur energized inducing a current in the secondary poses which maytbehconverted to System for winding 141, and thus heat the cathode of the automatically in response to the usual manual X'ray m13@ 5 to thelmlonlm emlsslonl Huong? gie 95 operation of the apparatus. e conductors 9 and l2. so `upon c usure o e A further object of our invention is to provide Sfmtch Cthe prlmary. Wmdmg 13 of the high ten' a system normally employed for fluorosooplo pm. sion transformer 7 will likewise `become energized poses which may be Converted to a,v system for and induce a current in the secondary winding 6 100 Y radiographic; pufposeslby the Roentgenologist in which is transmitted to the electrodes of the response to` theusualrmanual operation ofthe X-ray tube through the Conductors 8 and 9,- various parts without :the Vnecessity for an undue The energy `ilfl lOWIlg from the SOUIC@ t0 the l delay in the convertion ofthe system.` primary windings 13 and `16 of the respective Still further objects `of our invention will betransformers 7 and 10 likewiseflows through the 105 come apparent tothose skilled inthe art by reff respective resistance `elements 15 `and 19. `This erenc to the accompanying drawing wherein the limits the energy supplied by the source- `14, single figure is a diagrammatical representation through conductors L1\ and L2,f to leach of the of a system "formaking fiuoroscopic and radio-` high and low tension transformers.

5 graphic examinations in accordance withjour The arrangement thusfardescribed constitutes 1.10

the normal circuit employed for the purposes of fluoroscopic examinations in that the energy supplied to the tube is considerably reduced by the resistance elements 15 and 19. Our system will now be described when converted for radiographic purposes.

In the usual operation of any apparatus for the taking of radiographic pictures a timing device is normally employed which regulates the period of energization of the X-ray tube. Such devices are well known in the art and as the same per se forms no part of our present invention we have shown only diagrammatically such a timing device at 22. This device is connected in series with the conductor L2 extending from the source 14 to the primary winding 13 and is short circuited by closure of the switch C for the purposes of fluoroscopy, in the manner previously described, but is actively in the circuit when the switch C is open for the purpose of radiography.

VA hand switch E in the form of a push button, well known to the art, is connected to the timing mechanism 22 by means of a pair of conductors 23 and 24 for the purposes of controlling operation of the timing mechanism for the time periods for which the mechanism has been preset. Normally this hand switch E is supported by a support or bracket 25 when the apparatus is being employed for f'luoroscopic purposes and the hand switch C is closed. This support or bracket 25 protrudes from a suitable housing 26 and is pivoted thereto at 27.

The inwardly disposed portion thereof is provided with suit-able conducting surfaces 28 and 29 insulated from each other by a suitable insulated section 30 and from the casing by a similar insulated section, such as shown at 32.

The conducting surface 28 is arranged to engage a pair of contact members 33 and 34 and in :a similar manner the contact surface 29 engages Contact terminals 35 and 36. When the hand switch E is placed upon the support 25, during fluoroscopic examinations, the latter is caused to lslightly rotate about the pivot 27, due to the @weight of the hand switch E, in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure, against the tension of a suitable coil spring 37.

A conductor 38 extends from the supply conductor L2 to the contact terminal 36 and a similar conductor 39 likewise extends from the conductor L2 to the contact terminal 35, but it is to be noted that these two conductors are connected on opposite sides of the resistance element 15.

In a similar manner a conductor 40 extends from one end of the resistance element 19 to the contact terminal 34 and a conductor 42 extends from the opposite end of the resistance element 19 to the contact terminal 33.

When the apparatus is employed for fluoroscopy purposes with the hand switch E in position upon the support 25, and the hand switch C closed, the energy will flow from the source 14 to the primary windings of the respective transformers 7 and 8, through resistance elements 15 and 19, as previously stated, and the energy supplied thereto will thus be limited by these resistance elements.

Assuming now that during the uoroscopic examination the Roentgenologist observes some particular phenomenon which he desires to immediately radiograph he then opens the hand switch C which de-energizes the primary winding v13 of the high tension transformer 7. The time switch mechanism is usually preset for the desired period of exposure and as it is connected in series with the supply conductor L2, it per'- forms the same function as the switch C, for the desired period of time.

The hand switch E, which controls the operation of the timing mechanism being now supported by the support or bracket 25 the conducting surfaces 28 and 29 forming a part of the latter are disengaged from the respective contact terminals 33 to 36 inclusive. The operator removes the hand switch E from the support 25 and the coil spring 37 causes clockwise rotation thereof about the pivot point 27, causing the contact surfaces 28 and 29 to engage the contact terminals 33, 34 and 35, 36.

These contact terminals being connected across the respective resistance elements 15 and 19 comprise a shunt circuit relative thereto and upon closure thereof by the conducting surfaces 28 and 29 of the support these resistance elements are immediately short circuited and are no longer connected actively with the primary windings 13 and 16 of the transformers 7 and 10. The operator then depresses the button of the hand switch E which causes operations of the time switch mechanism 22.

This in turn immediately closes the circuit from the source of supply 14 to the primary winding 13 by completing the conductivity through the conductor L2 and the X-ray tube becomes energized for the time period regulated by the timing mechanism 22. The resistance elements 15 and 19 being now short circuited have no effect on the circuits at this time which enables the maximum energy of the source 14 to be impressed upon the primariT windings 13, 16, and the X-ray tube and cathode.

It must, of course, be appreciated that with the type of apparatus with which our system is employed a iiuorescent screen is utilized for uoroscopic examinations and is moved out of position and a sensitized nlm is moved into position for radiographic examinations. After energization of the tube for the time period desired the operator replaces the hand switch E upon the support 25 which again'opens the connection of the contact terminals 33 and 34 by the conducting surface 28, and the-contact terminals 35 and 36 by the conducting surface 29. The system, therefore, is again converted and ready for operation for purposes of uoroscopic examinations by closure of the switch C.

It can thus be appreciated by those skilled in the art that we have provided a novel arrangement of an X-ray system which may be employed for uoroscopy or radiographic examinations and which may be readily converted from one type of operation to the other lwith a minute lapse of time. The time required for opening or closing of the switch C and thefreplacement or removal ofthe hand switch E from the support is of suicient duration to enable the cathode of the X-ray tube to decrease or increase to that neces,- sary for the particular operation desired through the action of the resistance elementV 19..

In a like manner the energy supplied to the primary winding of the high tension transformer is increased or decreased by the operation of thev support effecting the action of the resistance element 15. The increase or decrease `of the energy supplied to the respective transformers is naturally transmited to the X-ray tube and cathode thus rendering them operable for the particular examination desired.

Although we have shown and described one speci-o embodiment of our invention we do not desire to be limited thereto as various other modifications of the same may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an X-ray system for making radiographic and fluoroscopic examinations the combination with an X-ray tube and a source of electrical energy therefor, of means connected with said source of electrical energy for Alimiting the energy supplied thereby to said X-ray tube for fluoroscopic examinations, a time switch connected with said source for regulating the period of.' energization of said X-ray tube by said source for radiographic examinations, a hand switch connected to said time switch for controlling operation of the latter, andasupport for saidhand switch comprising a switching member connected to said first mentioned means and operable upon the removal of said hand switch to render said first mentioned means inoperative to limit the energy thereby causing said X-ray tube to be energized 'for radiographic examinations.

2. In an X-ray system comprising means for making fluoroscopic examinations including an X-ray tube provided with a cathode to be heated, a high tensiontransforrner for energizing said X-ray tube, a low tension transformer for supplying heating current to the cathode of said tube, resistance elements connected with each high and low tension transformer for controlling the energy supplied thereby to said X-ray tube and said cathode, and means for making radiographicA pictures comprising a time switch connected with said high tension transformer `for controlling the period of energization of said X-ray tube by said high tension transformer, a hand switch connected with said time switch for controlling op- X-ray tube provided with a cathode to be heated,

a high tension transformer for energizing said X-ray tube, a low tension transformer for supplying heating current to the `cathode of said tube, resistance elements connected with said high and low tension transformers for limiting the energy supplied by each to said X-ray tubeY and cathode, respectively, for fluoroscopic pur-` poses, a time switch connected with said high tension transformer for controlling the period of energization of said X-ray tube by said high tension transformer for radiographic purposes, a

hand switch connected to said time switch for controlling operation of -the latter, and a support for said hand switch comprising a switch member connected with each of said resistance elements and normally unefiecting the operation of the latter in limiting the energy supplied to said X- ray tube and cathode while supporting said hand switch, and operative to short circuit both of said resistance elements to cause said X-ray tube and said cathode to be energized by the entire energy of said high and low tension transformers, respecitively, for radiographic purposes upon removal of said hand switch from said support.

4. An X-ray system for making radiographic and fluoroscopic examinations comprising an X- ray tube provided with a heat controlled cathode, `a high tension transformer connected to said cathode for supplying heating current thereto, a source of electrical energy for each of said high and low tension transformers, resistance elements connected in series with `said high and low tension transformers and the respective source of electrical energy for each for limiting the supply of energy to saidX-ray tube and said cathode, a time switch connected with said high tension transformer and its respective source of electrical energyfor regulating the period of energization of said X-ray tube by said high tension transformer for making radiographic pictures, a hand switch connected with said time switch for controlling the operation of the latter, and a support for said hand switch comprising a switch member normally inoperative while supporting said hand switch to effect said resistance elements in series with said high and low tension transformers to enable the latter to energize said X-ray tube and said cathode for purposes of fluorcscopic examinations, and said supporting switch member being operable upon removal of said hand switch to short circuit said resistance elements to cause said X-ray tube and cathode to be energized for radiographic purposes.

5. In an X-ray system for making radiographic and fluoroscopic examinations the combination with an X-ray tube provided with a cathode tov be heated and a source of electrical energy for said tube and cathode of resistance elements connected with the source of electrical energy `for said tube and cathode, for limiting the energy supplied thereto for fluoroscopic examinations, a time switch connected with the source of energy for said tube for regulating the period of energization of the latter for radiographic examinations, a hand switch for controlling the operation of said time switch, and supporting means for said hand switch comprising a pivoted switch member arranged to engage a plurality of contact terminals connected to said resistance elements, said supporting means being Vadapted to rotate about its pivot to disengage said contactterminals when said hand'switch is placed thereupon to render said resistance elements operative to limit the energy supplied to said tube for fluoroscopic examinations, and said supporting means being adapted to rotate about its pivot and engage said contact terminals when said hand switch is removed therefrom to render said resistance elements inoperative to limit the energy therebyV causing said X-ray tube and cathode to be energized for radiographic examinations.

MONTFORD MORRISON. STANLEY E. LUNDQUIST.

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